A new species that I hadn’t seen before in the garden, the Hairy shield bug (Dolycoris baccarum) ^{[Soortenregister]}.

1. DISTRIBUTION

The Hairy shield bug is one of the most common shieldbugs in the Netherlands with an exception for the northern provinces.  ^{[Aukema et al. 2016]}.
The bug occurs in herbrich biotopes, parks and gardens ^{[Aukema et al. 2016]}. I hadn’t seen this stricking bug in the garden before, so a new garden species.

2. BEHAVIOUR

2.1. ACTIVITY

Adults can be found the whole year through and are most numerous in the period between April and November. They overwinter ^{[Aukema et al. 2016]}.

2.2. DEVELOPMENT

The larvae develop especially in plants from the rose family (Rosaceae) and are full grown in August ^{[British bugs]}.

3. IDENTIFICATION

The species is 10-12 mm in length. It is the only Shield bug with hairs on it neckshield.

These characteristics lead to identification ^{[Aukema et al. 2016],[British bugs]}:

1. Pronotum (necksheild) and corium (frontal part of the frontwing) whinered
2. Shield greenish to brown with a light tip
3. Banded black and white connexivum protruding from below the wings
4. Banden black and white antennae
5. Hairy neckshield

 

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Literature

^{Aukema et al. 2016} Aukema, B., Heijerman Th. & Kalkman V.J., 2016. Veldgids wantsen deel 1. – EIS Kennis­ centrum Insecten, Leiden.

^{British bugs} British bugs, An online identification guide to UK Hemiptera

^{Soortenregister} Nederlands Soortenregister

Citation

Krischan, O.R., 2025. Dolycoris baccarum. Kerfdier, www.kerfdier.nl. Accessed on 17 March 2025.